-August 26th, 2016 Weekly Market Roundup. The U.S. Equity Market ended the week unchanged in another quiet summer week. The best performing sectors were materials and financials, while the worst performing sectors were health care and consumer staples. Trading activity remained light and price volatility was non-existent. In fact, the broad equity market (S&P 500) has not posted a 1% daily price change in the last 35 trading days. Fed Funds futures place the odds of a September rate increase at 30% (up from 21%) and a December increase at 60% (up from 52%).

-August 20th, 2016 Weekly Market Roundup. Equity markets were essentially unchanged during the relatively quiet trading week as corporate earnings season is drawing to a close, with more than 95% of companies in the S&P 500 having now reported results. Overall, corporate profits declined about 3%, led by an 84% drop in energy sector earnings. However, Energy (+2.5%) was again the best performing sector as the recent rally in crude oil prices continued. The month of August is usually subdued with trading activity, given many on Wall Street choose to vacation during the month.

-August 12th, 2016 Weekly Market Roundup. All major U.S. stock indices rose to new highs on Thursday to mark the first time since December 31, 1999 that the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500® Index, and the NASDAQ Composite reached records on the same day. However, by Friday equity markets pulled back to close the week essentially unchanged. With almost all companies in the S&P 500 having reported earnings, 69% beat analysts' earnings estimates.Energy was the best performing sector as crude oil prices gained 6+% this week due, in part, to speculation that informal OPEC talks in September might lead to an agreement to stabilize production.

-August 5th, 2016 Weekly Market Roundup. Equity markets started the week lower after stress tests on European banks concerned investors around the world, but a strong US jobs report moved the S&P 500 and NASDAQ to all-time highs by posting its fifth weekly gain in the last six weeks. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial average indices both ended the week up approximately +0.4%, The best performing sectors were info tech and financials, while the worst performing sectors were utilities and telecom.